- 2026-08-21
Mark J. Sobczak
Partner
A dedicated appellate advocate for more than thirteen years, Mark has briefed and argued appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country.
He concentrates his practice in insurance coverage appeals and has extensive appellate experience in other areas of the law, including casualty defense, trucking, employment, statutory construction, and arbitration. Recognizing that the strongest appeal always stems from success at the trial court level, Mark serves as trial monitoring counsel in high-exposure cases to preserve error and posture the case for a successful appeal by preparing, motions in limine, jury instructions, and critical trial and post-trial briefs.
He concentrates his practice in insurance coverage appeals and has extensive appellate experience in other areas of the law, including casualty defense, trucking, employment, statutory construction, and arbitration. Recognizing that the strongest appeal always stems from success at the trial court level, Mark serves as trial monitoring counsel in high-exposure cases to preserve error and posture the case for a successful appeal by preparing, motions in limine, jury instructions, and critical trial and post-trial briefs.
Memberships
- Defense Research Institute
- Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
Awards & Rankings
-
Best Lawyers®, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2026-2027
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2020-2026
- Illinois Rising Star, 2014-2019
- Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
- Secured multimillion-dollar judgment requiring the insured and another insurer to reimburse our insurer client based upon a batch clause endorsement.
- Secured reversal of a trial court's refusal to compel arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act on the basis that the parties' contract did not require a particular arbitrator and the arbitration agreement could not be set aside because of an arbitrator's refusal to serve.
- In case of first impression under the Illinois School Code, obtained affirmance of trial court's dismissal of taxpayer derivative suit against school district superintendant.
- Successfully convinced the appellate court to uphold dismissal of counterclaims by the decedents' estates in companion interpleader action.
- Secured reversal of trial court's order compelling client's production of documents under Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.
- Obtained early dismissal of appeal in legal malpractice action for lack of appellate jurisdiction.
- 2026-01-21
- 2025-08-21
- 2023-01-24
- 2022-01-28
- 2021-11-12
- January 29, 2021
- 2020-01-29
- 2018-01-25
- 2018-01-02
- 2017-02-01
- 2017-01-23
ADDITIONAL SPEAKING & WRITING
- A Guide to Illinois Postjudgment Motions, 105 Illinois Bar Journal 52 (March 2017) (co-authored)
- An Analytical Framework: Evaluating, Negotiating, and Effectuating Settlements on Appeal, 58 No. 3 DRI For the Defense 51 (March 2016) (co-authored)
- Oral Argument: What It Really Takes to “Please the Court”, 57 No. 10 DRI For the Defense 54 (Oct. 2015) (co-authored)
- Ancient Duties, Modern Perspectives: Recent Developments in the Law of Maintenance and Cure, 89 Tul. L. Rev. 1135 (2015) (co-authored)
- Conducting the Employment Practices Audit, (IICLE, 2010 & Supp. 2013, 2020) (co-authored 2013 supplement and subsequent revisions to Chapter 7, entitled Antidiscrimination and Antiharassment Policies and Training)
- Whistleblower Retaliation Claims in the Dodd-Frank Era: Defenses that Work and Defenses that Don't, 30 Corp. Counsel Rev. 281 (2012) (co-authored)
- SLAPPed in Illinois: The Scope and Applicability of the Illinois Citizen Participation Act, 28 N. Ill. U.L. Rev. 559 (2008)